Christ - (Archived)

Based in the Bisamberg district of Vienna on the north east bank of the Danube River (within city limits), this 400 year-old estate is in the hands of young winemaker Rainer Christ who took over from his father in 2004.  Christ is one of four producers from Vienna who has invigorated the quality of wines coming out of Vienna by forming the Wien Wien group.  The group is setting standards for the region for the traditional cuvée Gemischter Satz – a field blend normally composed of Gruner Veltliner and up to forty varietals of white grapes found in Austria: Welschriesling, Rotgipfler, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, etc. The Gemischter Satz blend of Vienna must be grown in the same plot, harvested the same day and vinified together. Christ was the first winemaker to practice biodynamic farming and winemaking in Vienna.  Christ is fully organic and follows biodynamic principles, however the winery is not certified biodynamic. The first biodynamic cuvée was the 1997 Weissburgunger Vollmondwein (Full Moon Pinot Blanc), which is harvested during the full moon.  The terroir in the Bisamberg district is an iron and manganese mix. Most wines are vinified in stainless steel and some see a judicious amount of used French oak.  Christ uses indigenous yeasts found on the grape skins for spontaneous fermentation.